2003 Yachting Excellence Awards - Finalists

Date: Tuesday 11th November 2003
Issued By: Louise Andrews, Communications & Projects Coordinator

2003 Yachting Excellence Awards
Friday 28 November 2003
Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland

The finalist nominees have now been decided in the 2003 Yachting Excellence Awards and the six finalists in the SYNERGI Travel Sailor of the Year and ten finalists in the Young Sailor of the Year Award categories will find out if they have won at the 2003 Yachting New Zealand Excellence Awards on 28 November 2003.

The Yachting New Zealand Sailor of the Year Award and recipient of the Sir Bernard Fergusson Trophy, began in 1963 with P Class designer, Harry Highet receiving the first prestigious award. Past Sailor of the Year Award winners include famous Yacht Designers, Olympic Sailors, Media Personalities and America's Cup Sailors including, Sir Peter Blake, Team New Zealand, Chris Dickson, Russell Coutts, Peter Montgomery, Bruce Farr, Bruce and st 2003 Semaine Olympique, 5th 2003 SAR Princesa Sofia, 1st 2003 Olympicsail, 1st Mistral Imco National Championships - men's Mistral class)
- Sarah Macky
(6th 2003 ISAF World Championships, 3rd Semaine Olympique, 1st 2003 Olympicsail, 2nd 2003 Sail Auckland - Europe class)

Young Sailor of the Year

- Brett Elstob
(1st 2003 Olympicsail, 1st 2003 Youthsail, 2nd NZ Splash Championships, 9th 2002 Splash Worlds - Splash Class)
- David Robertson
(6th ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships, 1st 2003 Youthsail, 1st Sir Peter Blake Memorial Regatta - men's mistral class)
- Scott Kennedy & Alastair Thompson
(1st Youthsail, 5th ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships - men's 420 class)
- Olivia Powrie & Sarah Bilkey
(1st Sail Auckland, 3rd Olympicsail, 4th Youthsail, 9th 2003 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships - women's 420 class)
- James Williamson
(1st 2003 Tanner Cup, 2nd Starling Auckland Championship, 3rd P Class North Island Championship, 3rd P Class Winteremaining categories have already been decided and the following people will be presented with their Awards at the 2003 Yachting Excellence Awards dinner:

Merit Award:
(recognising the acts or services with either directly or indirectly have the effect of promotion, advancement or betterment in New Zealand of the sport of yachting)
- Stewart Thwaites

Honour Award:
(recognising a) outstanding sportsmanship or rescue of other persons, or b) outstanding services to yachting in New Zealand at club, regional, national or international level rendered by any person, club, vessel, corporate body or company)
- Ross May
- Brian & Mary Inglis
- Rob Sowry
- John Goater
- John Parrish
- John Peet
- Jennifer Loader
- Richard Jones
- Peter Carr
- Pat Smylie
- John Elliot
- Denis Hewitt

Cruising Award:
(recognising an outstanding non-competitive voyage or cruise under power or sail, or outstanding services to cruising carried out by any person, club, corp )

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